New Zoning and More Advertising

Ann Arbor, MI – Ann Arbor's city council has changed the zoning of the South University area to align it with other parts of the city's downtown.On Monday night, council unanimously approved a central business district and parking zoning designation for the South University area. Councilmember Jean Carlberg says the change should help promote mixed use of the area, and will allow taller buildings.South University merchants had asked city officials for the zoning change.

In other business, city council approved a year-long pilot program to allow more sandwich board advertising on sidewalks in the downtown area. Mayor John Hieftje says it's an expansion of a program originally designed for restaurants.Council member Wendy Woods says the sandwich board advertising can be especially beneficial to stores on the second stories of buildings. The pilot period for the signs starts March 1.